Value #4

The Heat is On: How to Speed Up your Hiring Process

If you haven’t hired in the past 6 months, you will certainly be shocked to learn how tight the candidate market has become in such a short amount of time.
If you have been hiring, you are already aware of how fast the best candidates are getting offers. There’s only one way to stay ahead in today’s labor market and that is to speed up the hiring process.

Currently, the employment market is experiencing a particular phenomenon, where unemployment is declining, job growth is accelerating, and candidates are being swooped up faster than ever. This presents an unpleasant truth: you are losing your top potential talent due to a slowed system.

The typical hiring process is taking nearly twice as long to hire people as it did several years ago. Hiring professionals are now taking up to 8 days for phone screenings and as long as 7 days to complete group interviews, the entire procedure taking almost a month long.

At Roth, we’ve found that we lose most of our best candidates if the interview isn’t scheduled within 5 days of finding them. It’s not about having a quick hiring process; it’s about creating an efficient one.

How to change your selection process

A quick interviewing and selection process is no good if it leads you to the wrong employees.

Every step in your hiring process should focus on the candidate, and ensuring that they feel important. Demonstrating transparency and open dialogue will communicate that you value and respect their time, and appreciate their consideration. This will make your organization stand out from other companies that your candidates may be interviewing with.

Here are a few tips to make the process as fast as possible with the best results:

Loud and Clear:

Before the interview process begins, start with a precise description of what the job requires and what you are looking for in the ideal candidate. Outline a specific skillset, but also think of intangible “remarkable” qualities.

Game Plan:

Make a plan and a timeline to match. Try to shorten it while still making it realistic. When you do begin your interviews, outline the process for your candidates (this will add a little pressure to complete deliverables on time).

Bring in the A Team:

Invite your top performers to interview your favorite candidates. They can sniff out weaknesses and they’ll be able to understand where the candidates might stand in the team environment.

Back to Back to Back:

If you have multiple interviews, try and condense them to a single day. You’ll be in the mindset, and it will be easier to compare candidates.

Technically Speaking:

Try to go easy on the technical testing, only utilizing it if it is absolutely necessary. If you really have to, keep it to 15 minutes and make it a real-life scenario.

Be Ruthless

You have pretty great intuition. If the candidate isn’t right, move on. Don’t settle for less than excellent.

The Culture Glass Slipper

You can teach skills, but it’s a lot more difficult to force a culture fit. Make culture fit is the top priority when hiring.

Keep in Touch

Consistently keep in contact with your candidates, even if it’s just an email to let them know a meeting got postponed. Keeping them involved in the process will keep your favorite candidates close and cut down on how often they reach out to you.

Competitive Advantage

Remember, this is a candidate’s market. Be ready to make a competitive offer, and for their current company to make a counteroffer. Websites like Glassdoor can offer insight on what your competitors are offering for specific positions. For more insight on salaries by region, consult Roth’s Annual Salary Guide.

Deadline Inspiration

If you meet the ideal candidate, offer them the job before they leave.

Although harsh, give the candidate 24 hours to accept your offer. This limits the time they have to negotiate other offers and will allow you to move on quickly if they decide to go in a different direction.

Overall, this process should be an exciting one, overflowing with opportunities to make your organization better. Allow yourself to feel the excitement, and feed off the energy of your candidates, that will propel you forward and create an eagerness to reach the finish line.

You know your company, you know what you’re looking for, and you have the ability to create the team of your dreams.

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About Roth Staffing Companies, L.P.

Roth Staffing Companies is one of the largest privately-held staffing companies in the country, operating from more than 100 locations in 21 states and the District of Columbia via six specialized business lines: Ultimate Staffing Services, the 11th largest admin/clerical staffing company in the country, Ledgent Finance & Accounting, Adams & Martin Group, Ledgent Technology & Engineering, and About Talent. The organization is also affiliated with Ultimate Locum Tenens.

Roth Staffing Companies stands as the only firm in the industry ever ranked #1 on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing, privately-owned companies, and is the only one to receive all of the industry’s most prestigious honors in a single year, accomplishing this feat for two consecutive years. The organization is consistently ranked among the 50 largest staffing companies in the country.

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- Client (Houston, TX)

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"[Our Executive Recruiter] epitomizes professionalism and leadership in her profession. I’ve had the fortunate experience of working with her over the last two years and cannot overstate how much I appreciated her demeanor, her willingness to be an engaged business partner and her ability to find us great talent. She is clearly an expert in recruiting and talent management. She’s been instrumental in helping [our company] build its team. I strongly recommend her and look forward to more collaborations in the years to come."

- Client (Sacramento, CA)

"Thank you for all of the excellent support you guys have given us in 2016! This was a very challenging year for us and all of your support and efforts to keep us staffed was a tremendous help. 2017 will bring new challenges, but I’m comforted knowing your teams will be there to help us when we need it."